Week 5 is another really busy one at Prescott Primary Northern. We finished last week with  a great Connect4 games and food night, hosted by our Chaplain team and helpers – a big thank you to them. We have had various Book Week Activities this week, and we are looking forward to our big Parades on Friday. Year 3/5 and Year 5/6 netball teams have gone out to tournaments, and some ICAS competitions also took place.

I was reading a book by Dr Darren Morton recently titled “Live More Happy.” It’s a great read, and you can even download it here (https://literature.adventistchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/live-more-happy-pocket-edition.pdf )if you would like.

Darren lectures at Avondale University, which is a part of the same education system as our school. The title of chapter four of the book drew me in. It is “Blue and Green Should Often Be Seen”. It talks about getting outside and being active, and the importance of that for our physical and mental health. It got me thinking about how challenging I have found it in my experience to be my best dad, teacher or principal when I am really tired or stressed. Good parenting takes lots of time and effort, and can be exhausting, but to be at our best for our kids, we need to be right there in the moment with them. You may be becoming a little desensitised on Wellbeing information, but the whole idea is really important, especially when our kids benefit from our good mental health. I read an article this week which I think is practical and helpful for us to consider in our parenting and educating journey. I hope you find it useful.

“Mental Health is on everyone’s lips. With 44% of Australian adults having experienced a mental disorder over the course of their lives, and 1 in 5 having experienced symptoms of a mental disorder over the last 12 months, it’s no surprise that Google searches for mental health queries reached an all-time high in 2021.

Additionally, across Australia there are 102 days dedicated every year to raising awareness of important mental health and wellbeing related topics, including Neurodiversity Week in March, World Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Day in May, and R U OK? Day in September. A growing number of Australian states and territories are also promoting Mental Health Month in October.

With all the talk about mental health and wellbeing, it’s valuable to understand that mental illness and mental health are actually different things. On the one hand, we have mental illness. Low mental illness means you aren’t experiencing symptoms of mental illness (such as depression and anxiety), high mental illness means you are. And on the other hand, we have mental health. If you have high mental health, you have a generally positive mood and outlook on life and are functionally optimally. You are said to be ‘flourishing’. If you have low mental health, you may feel hollow or empty, and have a generally low mood. You are said to be ‘languishing’.

For most people experiencing mental illness, interventions such as therapy and medications are both valuable and necessary. However, to improve mental health and lead a flourishing life, there are simple changes that anyone can make even if they are struggling with mental illness. Let me ask you a simple question.

What makes life most worth living for you?

The simplest way to experience improved mental health and wellbeing is to identify the answer to that question and then find a way to do a little more of those things each day. Let me outline a few things science points us to that can help:

1. Sleep

This might be the most boring thing I can put on the list of ideas to bolster wellbeing (for you and your kids). But it might also be the most valuable item on the list. Have you noticed what a difference it makes when you feel well rested?

Have you noticed how much better you behave (not to mention the kids) when you’ve had a full night’s sleep? It’s no surprise that sleep loss is associated with negative moods and impacts emotional regulation. Sleep makes you a better parent. It makes you a better partner, employee… it makes you a better person. Prioritising a solid 8 hours of sleep per night is just about the best thing you can do to be happier.

2. Build Connection

Relationships are at the core of our wellbeing. Find ways that you and your children can connect with one another and with others regularly and in healthy, positive ways. Simple ways to build connection are smiling at each other (even fake smiles can amplify and initiate feelings of happiness), spending quality time together, and telling the people around you that you love them.

3. Get Active

A recent study from the University of South Australia found that exercise is 1.5 times more effective than counselling or the leading medications at improving symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress. Physical activity also keeps our brains healthy, increases positive mood and increases self-esteem, as well as reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, and increasing bone health. The World Health Organisation recommends that children and adults aim for about 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity daily, but if you’re just starting out, replacing sedentary time with physical activity of any intensity will offer health benefits.

4. Slow Down and Smell the Roses

Nature is fuel for the soul. Spending time interacting with nature has a long list of benefits (including improved academic and task performance, stress reduction, reduced violence, increased inspiration, and improved mood), which can be achieved in as little as 120 minutes a week. You can boost your nature time by shifting the route of your walk to go through your nearest green space, taking your lunch break outside, or planning a weekly family trip to the forest, beach, or botanic gardens.

5. Have Fun

It might seem like a simple thing, but having a once-a-week family adventure can build connection, encourage physical activity, and get us out into nature, plus it is fun! Having fun can be free, take the soccer ball to the park, do a scavenger hunt, or take a bucket and spade to the beach.

On the road to flourishing

Work, school, homework, cleaning the house, finances… these are all important things, but they’re not the things that make life worth living. If we want to get on the road to flourishing, we may need to re-prioritise our time, making sure that we build in opportunities for sleep, connection, movement, nature, and fun. Simple swaps are all it takes to bring greater positivity into your life.” (Coulson, 2023)

Have a great week with our kids,

Mark B

Hey PPN Family,

I was in Sydney last week for my aunty’s funeral. It was wonderful to celebrate her life with family and friends. My aunty would have turned 92 on the 30th of this month, so she lived a good life. She was a tough, old-school Samoan aunty who raised four children as a solo mum, and used to work the plantations and go fishing in the sea to get food for her parents and family.

I felt how strong she was personally because when I was a boy, she would always greet me with an affectionate hit on the top of my head to show how much she loved me.

My aunty was also a traditional Samoan healer who successfully treated people with all kinds of sicknesses, and even terminal illnesses, through natural herbal medicines and Samoan massage. Over the years, I have been healed many times through my aunty’s treatments.

As a person who had blessed so many people during her life, it was sad to say goodbye to my aunty, but at the same time it was comforting to know that we would see her again. You see, my aunty was a godly woman who was not perfect, but loved Jesus. And because of this, she went to rest with the firm hope in the promise of Jesus in John 14:1-3 (NCV) when he said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am.”

Jesus is preparing a place for all of us in heaven, and when He is done, He will come to take us and all of our loved ones who have passed away in Him to live there forevermore. May this hope fill you with peace and joy today.

God bless,

Roland Talamaivao-Amituanai

Helping children in the Red Zone

As part of the Zones of Regulation framework, which we have been exploring over the last few weeks, extremenly heightened states of alertness or intense emotions are called ‘The Red Zone’.

Often, we could view Red Zone behaviours as being ‘out of control’. These behaviours include:

• Anger and rage
• Hands on” physical reactions
• Terror
• Other extreme feelings
• Feeling “ready to explode”
• Devastation

When a child is in the Red Zone, the aim is to help them regulate their emotional state to a point where they can think clearly, make good decisions and choose appropriate behaviour. The aim is NOT to convince them that how they feel is wrong, inaccurate or inappropriate, but rather to process their feelings in helpful ways.

Below are some ideas to help you support your child when they are in the Red Zone:

Stay Calm: When your child is in the Red Zone, it's important for you to stay calm. Your calm presence can help them feel more secure and supported, even when they're upset.

Validate Feelings: Let your child know that their feelings are okay and normal. Use phrases like "I understand you're feeling upset" or "It's okay to feel angry sometimes."

Offer Breathing Exercises: Teach your child simple breathing techniques, like taking deep breaths or counting slowly, to help them calm down and regain control over their emotions.

Create a Safe Space: Designate a quiet and comfortable spot where your child can go to when they're feeling overwhelmed. This can be a place for them to relax and regain their composure.

Use Positive Distractions: Engage your child in activities they enjoy and that can help shift their focus away from the intense emotions. This could include drawing, listening to music, reading a book, or going for a walk.

Introduce heavy work: Activities that involve lifting, pushing or pulling help the body regulate from high emotional states. This can include things like push ups, filling and pushing a laundry basket, playing tug-of-war, stretching material, carrying a heavy backpack and sweeping.

Remember, every child is different, so it's important to try different techniques and see what works best for your child when they're in the Red Zone. The goal is to support them in managing their emotions in a healthy way.

It’s all about the books this week

Book Week is in full swing, with teachers swapping classrooms to read, our Book Fair on at lunch, and the diorama competition on today. It’s so great to see our student’s interest in books and reading on display during Book Week. We can’t wait to see the wonderful costumes at the Book Week Parade this Friday. Keep an eye out for an announcement about our diorama winners too.

SAPSASA Athletics

Last Thursday, 30 students represented our school at the Adelaide North East District Athletics Carnival. Each of our athletes did PPN proud, giving it their best in each of their events as they competed against other schools. A special mention goes to the following students who finished in the top 3 in their event:

• Lucas Isaac 3^rd in 10-year-old boys discus and 2^nd in shot put
• Dwij Patel 2^nd in 10-year-old boys Long Jump
• Austin Robert 2^nd in 11-year-old boys 100m and 1^st in 200m
• Guransh Brar 1^st in 11-year-old boys discus
• Ginesha Rathee 3^rd in 12-year-old girls 1500m
• Divjot Girn 3^rd in 12-year-old boys discus
• Amber Raspe 2^nd in 12-year-old girls discus and 2^nd in shot put